Target odor detection and security apparatus

ABSTRACT

A target odor detection apparatus and system configured to house one or more inanimate odor detectors for screening air passed across odor emitters or conveyances that pass through the target odor detection apparatus. Various communication technologies are incorporated in certain embodiments to provide enhanced control over an apparatus or system located in multiple and, in some cases, very distant, geographic locations.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to now pending U.S. application Ser.No. 13/029,839 to Freddie R. Brasfield entitled “Target Odor Detectionand Security Apparatus” which was originally filed on Feb. 17, 2011,which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/859,851 (now U.S.Pat. No. 7,913,540) to Freddie R. Brasfield entitled “Odor ScreeningSystem,” the content of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir respective entireties.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of odor screening for distinctiveodors emitted by prohibited materials. More particularly, thisdisclosure relates to a method and apparatus for collecting odor samplesfrom conveyances and supplying the odor samples to an inanimate odordetector for identification of target odors of prohibited materials.

BACKGROUND

There are many situations in which packages, pedestrians, vehicles andthe like (conveyance) may be carrying materials which are prohibitedfrom transport into or out of a designated area. Some examples areairports, sporting arenas and high security facilities. The prohibitedmaterials may include, for example, explosives, drugs or even a productbeing stolen.

One method for screening for various materials is to individually searcheach conveyance for the prohibited material. Unfortunately, individualsearching is extremely time-consuming and requires an inordinate numberof searchers and an inordinate period of time.

It is known that many prohibited materials such as explosives and drugsemit odors which are distinctive and can be detected in very smallquantities by specialized inanimate detectors which have been calibratedto identify such target odors. However, bringing expensive and oftencumbersome detection equipment into direct contact with a large numberof pedestrians and/or vehicles presents risks. Discrete placement ofsuch equipment is important as well as the protection of the equipmentitself, which is often expensive, and protection of personnelresponsible for such equipment.

What is needed, therefore, is a reliable and consistent system to screenpersons or conveyances and obtain consistent positive identifications ofprohibited material while achieving, for example, some or all of thegoals listed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elementsare not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein likereference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views,and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a somewhat schematic perspective view of a target odordetection apparatus;

FIG. 2A shows a somewhat schematic side view of a conduit and somesecurity features associated therewith;

FIG. 2B shows a view cut along line A-A from FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows a somewhat schematic side view of a target odor detectionapparatus;

FIG. 4A shows a somewhat schematic side view of a target odor detectionapparatus;

FIG. 4B shows a somewhat schematic side view of the target odordetection apparatus shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 shows a somewhat schematic end view of a target odor detectionapparatus;

FIG. 6 shows a somewhat schematic side view of a screening station;

FIG. 7 shows a somewhat schematic side view of a target odor detectionapparatus;

FIG. 8A shows a somewhat schematic top view of a mobile target odordetection apparatus;

FIG. 8B shows a somewhat schematic side view of the mobile target odordetection apparatus shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 shows a somewhat schematic side view of a target odor detectionapparatus; and

FIG. 10 shows a somewhat schematic top view of the target odor detectionapparatus shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Someof these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. Thedefinitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words beingdefined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If thedefinition of any term below diverges from the commonly understoodand/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions belowcontrol.

Air: broadly defined to include a scientific definition of “air” and/orother pure gases and gas mixtures and all solid, liquid, and gaseoussubstances entrained therein.

Airflow inducer: an apparatus used to cause air to move relative to theapparatus (e.g., a fan, a pump, or other similar device, with or withoutmoving mechanical parts) by pushing or pulling such air.

Inanimate Odor Detector: A non-living device that has been calibrated orotherwise has learned through, for example, computer-based learningalgorithms and/or programs, how to properly detect and identify aspecific target odor. Inanimate odor detectors can include, for example,products available from Scent Detection Technologies, Ltd. of HerzliyaPituach, Israel, and ScentLogix of Annapolis, Md., including suchtechnologies as ion mobility spectrometry, gas chromatography, massspectrometry, and liquid chromatography, many or all of whichindividually or in combination are capable of detecting a target odor(s)at very low concentrations.

Conduit: an apparatus configured to direct or otherwise channel gas froma first location to a second location.

Gas: broadly defined to include pure gases and gas mixtures (includingsolid and liquid particles entrained therein).

Porous structure: a structure including a plurality of apertures therethrough for allowing gas to migrate or otherwise be propelled from afirst side of the structure to an opposed side of the structure.

Security Screening Session: A period of time during which one or moreodor emitters are being screened for a target odor.

Target Odor: an odor of interest that may indicate the presence of acontraband substance such as, for example, illegal narcotics,explosives, chemical weapons, biological weapons, or anything, deemed apotential threat to an area being secured.

Response signal: a specified response given by an inanimate odordetector in response to the; inanimate odor detector detecting a targetodor.

Triggering event: a situation in which an inanimate odor detector givesa response signal, indicating that a target odor has been detected.

Wall: an object situated in any orientation, having a length much,greater than its thickness, and presenting a substantially continuoussurface except apertures or other objects are encountered there throughor thereon.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a security apparatus 100 including ascreening station 102, an observation room 104 situated remote from thescreening station 102, a conduit 106 including a first end 108A and asecond end 108B, and an airflow inducer 110. The screening station 102includes a three dimensional screening zone 112 where persons, animals,and/or things (collectively, “conveyances” or “odor emitters”) passthrough in order to be screened for one or more target odors. Thescreening zone 112 can be configured as a hallway through which multiplepersons (up to about 100) can pass at one time at varying rates, ofspeed and location within the hallway depending on the degree ofsecurity desired for the particular situation. The screening zone 112 isdefined adjacent an ingress portal 114 through which odor emitters enterthe screening station 102, and an egress portal 116 through which odoremitters exit the screening station 102. The observation room 104 cancome in many different shapes and sizes depending on the number and typeof inanimate odor detector being used (e.g., from about 1 ft³ to a roomlarge enough to house one or more persons. The conduit 106 can beconfigured to have various possible configurations, but preferably isconfigured such that the observation room 104 is a distance D1 fromabout 50 feet to about 250 ft, and most preferably from about 175 ft toabout 225 ft, from the screening zone 112. The screening station 102 isattached adjacent the conduit 106 proximate the first end 108A of theconduit 106 and the observation room 104 is attached adjacent theconduit 106 proximate the second end 108B of the conduit. The airinducer 110 is used to push, pull, or otherwise induce gas flow fromwithin the screening zone 112, through the conduit 106 to theobservation room 104, taking odors from odor emitters being screenedwith it so that an inanimate odor detector 118 located in theobservation room 104 is exposed to such odors to screen the odors forone or more target odors. The cross-sectional area through which air isflowing preferably ranges from about 1 ft² to about 10 ft².

If the inanimate odor detector 118 senses the presence of target odor,it will respond with a response signal to alert an observer and/or asecurity alarm system that a specific odor has been identified. Securitypersonnel may then direct the interception, detention, or release of theodor emitter or group of odor emitters who emitted the detected targetodor. Detaining within the screening station 102 an odor emitter thatcauses a triggering event may be desirable or undesirable depending onnumerous factors including what type of target odor was identified,whether the screening station 102 is fortified or otherwise resistant toexplosive blasts and/or small projectiles, and whether the screeningstation 102 is substantially airtight. For example, if an odor emitteremits a target odor resulting in a triggering event from an inanimateodor detector calibrated for certain high explosives, it may bedesirable to lock down the screening station 102 and detain the odoremitter inside if the screening station 102 is reinforced forexplosives. If, however, the screening station 102 is not reinforced orotherwise resistant to high explosives, it may be more desirable totemporarily release the odor emitter in a direction away from aprotected building or event. If a target odor indicating the presence ofnarcotics caused a triggering event, however, it may be more desirableto detain the odor emitter regardless of whether the screening station102 is reinforced because there is no imminent threat of an explosion.Similar logical scenarios are contemplated regarding firearms, chemicalweapons, and biological weapons, and the protocol used in thesesituations would vary based on the embodiment of the security apparatus100 that is used.

Preferably, the security apparatus 100 includes a first door 120 forclosing the ingress portal 114 and a second door 122 for closing theegress portal 116. Also, the security structure preferably includes aporous structure 124 defining a porous zone 126 between the screeningzone 112 and the conduit 106. The porous structure 124 can come in manyforms and can be used, for example, to filter air flowing through theporous zone 126, to block an odor emitter from entering the conduit 106,and to act as a visual barrier to prevent an odor emitter from seeingdown the conduit. In addition to or in the alternative to use of theporous structure 124, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the conduit 106 caninclude one or more baffles 128 for protecting the inanimate odordetector 118 and any personnel in the observation room 104 from, forexample, explosive debris, small arms fire, chemical weapons use, and/orbiological weapons use emanating from or near the screening zone 112. Inaddition to baffles 128 within the conduit 106, one or more protectivewalls 130 are included in some embodiments to further isolate theobservation room 104 from the screening zone 112.

In some embodiments as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3, the securityapparatus 100 includes a second observation room 132 remote from thescreening zone 112, wherein the conduit 106 further includes a third end108C attached adjacent the second observation room 132. Preferably, asecond inanimate odor detector 134 calibrated to detect one or moretarget odors is placed in the second observation room 132 to screen odoremitters as they pass through the screening zone. Preferably, the secondinanimate odor detector 134 is tasked with screening for a differenttarget odor than the first inanimate odor detector 118 is screening for.Preferably, the inanimate odor detector 134 is in communication with anevent indicator 140 and a computational device 142, which furtherincludes an internal or external memory unit 144. The computationaldevice 142 can include, for example, personal computers, laptopcomputers, integrated circuits (simple or complex such as, for example,an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), embedded computers,servers, control processing units (CPUs), microprocessors. Datacorresponding to a minimum threshold of a response signal is saved,uploaded, downloaded, or otherwise provided to the memory unit 144.During operation of the security apparatus 100, the engagement apparatus136 is substantially continuously monitored by the computational device142 so that the event indicator 140 is activated if/when an inanimateodor detector gives a response signal within calibration parameters.

The event indicator 140 can come in many different forms including, forexample, a siren, a flashing light, and/or one or more security assetsthat can be activated in response to a triggering event. In one example,the security apparatus 100 includes a first lock 146 (e.g., an automatedand/or manual bolt lock or magnetic lock), a second lock 148, and acontrol system 150 which can include, for example, the inanimate odordetector 134, the event indicator 140, the computational device 142, andthe memory unit 144. The first door 120 is engageable with the firstlock 146 and the second door is engageable with the second lock 148, andthe lock status of one or all doors is/are preferably monitored andpartially or completely controlled by the control system 150. In oneembodiment wherein at least two separate inanimate odor detectors areused to screen odor emitters, the resultant control response based on atriggering event initiated by, for example, the first inanimate odordetector 118 is different from the resultant control response based on atriggering event initiated by the second inanimate odor detector 134. Asshown in FIG. 4A, the first inanimate odor detector 118 and the secondinanimate odor detector 134 can be in the same observation room 104.Regardless of how the inanimate odor detectors are situated, the firstinanimate odor detector 118 can be associated with a first type oftriggering event (e.g., explosive material), whereas the secondinanimate odor detector 134 is associated with a second type oftriggering event (e.g., illegal narcotics). The control response to thefirst triggering event can be, for example, to activate, close, and lockthe first door 120 and the second door 122, whereas the control responseto the second triggering event can be, for example, to activate, close,and lock only one of the doors, activate a siren and/or flashing light,or do nothing. In a related embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, a singleinanimate odor detector 118 can be used to screen a plurality ofscreening stations including, for example, the screening station 102shown in FIG. 4A and a second screening station 103.

Preferably, in the various examples described above, air is drawn intothe security apparatus 100 through an ingress vent 156 wherein theingress vent 156 is preferably located adjacent the screening zone 112.Also, preferably, air flows from the screening zone 112, through theconduit 106, into the observation room 104 (and in the secondobservation room 132, if applicable), and out one or more egress vents158, one of which is preferably located adjacent the observation room104.

FIG. 4 also shows a preferred configuration in which a first innerbarrier 159 and a second inner barrier 160 are included. These innerbarriers can include, for example, actual doors or downward-facingblower fans (commonly referred to as “air curtains”). A purpose of theinner barriers is to further insulate the air within the screening zone112 from air outside the screening station 102 with regard to, forexample, temperature, humidity, and/or odors outside the screeningstation 102. Also, the space between the second inner barrier 160 andthe second door 122 allows time for the second door 122 to become lockedduring a triggering event before the odor emitter(s) in the screeningstation 102 have had time to pass through the second door 122.

FIG. 5 shows an end view of a security apparatus 161 that includes thescreening station 102, the observation room 104, the conduit 106, theairflow inducer 110, the screening zone 112, the-inanimate odor detector118, and the porous structure 124; however, the observation room 104 isnot situated remote from the screening station 102 and the conduit 106consists essentially of the porous structure 124.

FIG. 6 shows part of a security apparatus 162 including a screeningstation 164 that further includes a conveyor system 166 to convey anodor emitter from a first location 168 within a screening zone 170 to asecond location 172 within the screening zone 170. The conveyor system166 further includes a conveyor support surface 174 for supporting, anodor emitter during a,screening period. The duration of the screeningperiod generally depends on the speed of the conveyance system becauseodor emitters preferably remain stationary relative to the conveyorsupport surface 174 during the screening period. By providing theconveyance system 166, the movement of multiple odor emitters throughthe screening zone 170 is ;standardized to better ensure qualityscreening results by presenting a similar test sample to the inanimate,odor detector 118 for each odor emitter. The conveyance system 166 canbe in the form of, for example, one or more conveyor belts propelled bya motor or an escalator including a plurality of steps.

FIG. 7 shows a security apparatus 176 including the screening station102, the observation room 104, the airflow inducer 110, the screeningzone 112, the ingress portal 114, the egress portal 116, and theinanimate odor detector 118 located in the observation room 104. Thesecurity apparatus 176 further includes a first enclosed passageway 178defining a first transfer zone 180 between the screening zone 112 andthe observation room 104, wherein the first enclosed passageway 178 isattached adjacent the screening station 102 and adjacent the observationroom 104 to provide a passageway for gas to flow from the screening zone112, through the transfer zone 180, to the observation room 104. Thesecurity apparatus 176 also includes a first camera 182 for acquiring afirst set of visual data from a first area of interest in or adjacentthe security apparatus 176. The security apparatus 176 also includes aremote supervision zone 184 including an electronic display apparatus186 for a person to remotely monitor the first area of interest. A relaysystem 188 is also preferably provided to relay visual data from thefirst camera 182 to the electronic display apparatus 186. Preferably,the relay system 188 includes a first visual data transmitter 190 and afirst visual data receiver 192.

In one embodiment, visual data (e.g., video or time lapse photography)is recorded in temporary memory storage 194 (e.g., volatile memory suchas, for example, random access memory (RAM) of various forms) and suchvisual data is maintained for a limited period of time (e.g., one week)before it is deleted or otherwise overwritten by more current visualdata. If a triggering event occurs, in response to a signal from thesensing device 138, the computational device 142 begins recording visualdata on permanent memory storage 196 (e.g., non-volatile memory ofvarious forms including read only memory (ROM) of various forms) andretrieves some or all of the visual data stored on temporary memorystorage 194 and saves that visual data to permanent memory 196.Additionally or alternatively, if a triggering event occurs, in responseto a response signal, the computational device 142 flags the visual datarecorded proximate that time period with a time stamp so that particularportion of recorded video is easily found and/or accessed at a latertime.

FIG. 7 also shows a second screening station 198 including a secondscreening zone 200 defined between a second ingress portal 202 and asecond egress portal 204. The second observation room 132 is also shown.The second inanimate odor detector 134 is in communication with a secondevent indicator 206 and the computational device 142, which furtherincludes the internal or external memory unit 144. Data corresponding tothe timing of a response signal is saved, uploaded, downloaded, orotherwise provided to the memory unit 144. During operation of thesecurity apparatus 176, one or more animate odor detectors (e.g., thesecond animate odor detector 134) are substantially continuouslymonitored by the computational device 142 so that the second eventindicator 206 is activated if/when an inanimate odor detector gives aresponse signal. A second enclosed passageway 208 defines a secondtransfer zone 210, wherein the second enclosed passageway 208 isattached adjacent the second screening station 198 and the secondobservation room 132 to provide a passageway for gas to flow from thesecond screening zone 200, through the second transfer zone 210, to thesecond observation room 132. The second inanimate odor detector 134 islocated in the second observation room 132, and a second air inducer 212is provided for inducing air flow from within the second screening zone200, through the second transfer zone 210, and to the second observationroom 132 to entrain odors in the second observation room 132 that wereemitted in the second screening zone 200 so that the second inanimateodor detector 134 is exposed to the entrained odors to screen the odorsfor one or more target odors. A second ingress vent 214 is preferablyincluded to selectively draw ambient air into the screening zone asneeded.

Preferably, the security apparatus 176 further includes a second camera216 for acquiring a second set of visual data from a second area ofinterest. In one embodiment, the first area of interest is located in afirst geographic area 218 including the first screening station 102 andthe first observation room 104, and the second area of interest islocated in a second geographic area 220 including the second screeningstation 198 and the second observation room 132. In this embodiment, therelay system 188 relays the second visual data from the second camera216 to the electronic display apparatus 186, and a person can remotelymonitor the first area of interest and the second area of interest atthe remote supervision zone 184. The first geographic area 218 can be,for example, at least 50 feet from the second geographic area 220. Inother embodiments, the first geographic areas 218 can range from about1000 ft to about 5500 ft from the second geographic area 220. In otherembodiments, the first geographic area 218 is at least 100 miles fromthe second geographic area 220, and these areas can be separated bythousands of miles if necessary. In other embodiments, the firstgeographic area 218 is a distance of at least about 5000 feet from thesecond geographic area 220 and the remote supervision zone 184, and thesecond geographic area 220 is a distance of at least about 5000 feetfrom the remote supervision zone 184. These distances are made possibleby modern wired and/or wireless communications technologies including,without limitation, cellular communications, satellite communications,Wi-Fi™ or other IEEE 802.11 standard based technology, Bluetooth™technology, and other electromagnetic communication technologies whetherdigital or analog.

With regards to the security apparatus 176 described above, the firstenclosed passageway 178 and the second enclosed passageway 208 can beelongate conduits, providing for increased distance between therespective screening stations and observation rooms. Alternatively oradditionally, the first enclosed passageway 178 and the second enclosedpassageway 208 can include, for example, porous structures like theporous structure 124 defined above with regards to the securityapparatus 100 in FIG. 5.

The security apparatus 176 can further include a control system 222 incommunication with the first inanimate odor detector 118 and a manualinput apparatus 224 located in the remote supervision zone 184. Themanual input apparatus 224 is for selective activation by a person inresponse to observing an event of interest displayed on the electronicdisplay apparatus 186, whereby activation of the manual input apparatus224 and/or triggering of a response signal causes the control system 222to generate a control signal directed to a security asset 226 toactivate the security asset 226. In embodiments including the secondinanimate odor detector 134, the control system 222 is in communicationwith the second inanimate odor detector 134 and the manual inputapparatus 224. A security asset 226 can include, for example, a door, adoor lock, an air inducer, a siren, a light, a fire suppression system(e.g., sprinkler system), a repulsing agent emitter (e.g., pepper spraynozzle), and/or a specially trained person contacted viatelecommunication equipment (e.g., a text message or an e-mail messageindicating an event of interest has occurred at a specified location).

In related embodiments, the security apparatuses 176 described above canfurther include an electronic scanning apparatus 228 located within oradjacent the screening station 102. By including the scanning apparatus228, an odor emitter passing through the screening zone 112 can bescreened by the inanimate odor detector 118 for target odors and alsoscreened by a person monitoring the electronic scanning apparatus 228.The electronic scanning apparatus 228 can include, for example, a metaldetector and/or a body image scanner as used in many airports. In apreferred embodiment, the electronic scanning apparatus 228 is incommunication with the relay system 188 and/or the control system 222 sothat events that trigger the electronic scanning apparatus 228 observedby a person in the remote supervision zone 184 or otherwise made togenerate a control signal directed to one or more security assets 226 toactivate the security asset 226.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a mobile version of a security apparatus 230including a screening chamber 232; a screening zone 234 within thescreening chamber 232; an observation chamber 236 for situating aninanimate odor detector 238 to screen odor emitters for target odors asthe odor emitters pass through the screening zone 234; a porousstructure 240 through which air can flow from the screening zone 234 tothe observation chamber 236; at least one ingress portal 242 throughwhich an odor emitter can enter into the screening chamber 232;preferably, an egress portal 244 through which an odor emitter exitsfrom the security apparatus 230; an air flow inducer 246 for inducingair flow from within the screening zone 234, through the porousstructure 240, and into the observation chamber 236 to be screened bythe inanimate odor detector 238 calibrated to detect a target odor andgenerate a response signal when detecting a target odor; and aninanimate odor detector 238 in communication with an event indicator250. The inanimate odor detector 238 is calibrated and/or programmed togenerate a response signal if the inanimate odor detector 238 senses atarget odor, the generation and submission of which, in turn, triggersthe event indicator 250 to indicate that a target odor has beendetected. Other features described above regarding other non-mobileembodiments of security devices can be incorporated into the mobilesecurity apparatus 230 such as, for example, the control system 222shown in FIG. 7. The mobile security apparatus 230 is preferably housedwithin a trailer, but other embodiments are contemplated such as, forexample, a bus, an RV, a van or other similarly sized mobile vehicle.

Preferably, the mobile security apparatus 230 also includes asupervision zone 252 (which optionally can be remote from the screeningchamber 232 as described with respect to other embodiments above), afirst camera 182, and an electronic display apparatus 184. If thesupervision zone 252 is located directly outside a vehicle structure254, a retractable awning 256 is preferably attached adjacent an outsidesurface 258 of the vehicle structure 254 to provide some protection fromthe elements. Preferably, a first door 260 is included to cover theingress portal 242 and, if applicable, a second door 262 is preferablyprovided to cover the egress portal 242. In embodiments in which accessto the observation chamber 236 is made through the ingress portal, anaccess door 264 is preferably provided to separate the screening chamber232 from the observation chamber 236. In one embodiment, the securityapparatus 230 includes one or more queue indicators 266 such as, forexample, lights that shine green when it is time for an odor emitter toadvance and that shine red when it is time for an odor emitter to standstill. Additionally or alternatively, one or more queue indicators mayinclude an automated voice system that gives audible commands through aspeaker system, wherein different commands in different languages can bestored in a memory module such as, for example, permanent memory storage196. These and related features are also used in other non-mobileembodiments described herein and, preferably, the violation of a queueindicator results in a triggering event.

In one embodiment, a pair of foot pads 268 (e.g., foot shaped decals)can be provided to show an odor emitter how and where to stand in thescreening zone 234. To better ensure that an odor emitter is standing inthe proper position, the foot pads 268 may further include one or moresensors (e.g., a piezoelectric pressure pad, an accelerometer, or othersensor like those used with respect to the engagement apparatusesdescribed herein) to detect whether an odor emitter is stepping on thefoot pads 268 properly. These and related features are also used inother non-mobile embodiments described herein and, in some embodiments,detection of an improper stance results in, for example, a local alarmto notify local security personnel to assist an odor emitter through theapplicable screening zone. Alternatively, intentional improper standingas evidenced, for example, by camera footage, can result in an automaticor manual triggering event.

In some embodiments, the screening zone 234 is further isolated bybarriers 270 (e.g., flexible polymeric curtains or small doors) tofurther reduce the volume of air in the screening zone 234.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a security apparatus 286 for screening multipleconveyances (e.g., cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles). The securityapparatus 286 includes at least one lane 288 for a conveyance to passover, a substantially enclosed passageway 290 through which the at leastone lane 288 extends, a primary exhaust chamber 292, an air mixer 294(e.g., mechanical fan) for creating turbulent air conditions within theprimary exhaust chamber 292, a duct 296 for directing a fraction of thetotal airflow in the primary exhaust chamber 292 to an observation room298 similar or identical to the observation rooms (104, 132) describedabove with respect FIGS. 1, 3, and 7. The fraction of total airflowdirected through the duct 296 preferably ranges from about 5% to about15%, and more preferably about 10%, by volume of the total airflowflowing through the primary exhaust chamber 292. The passageway 290further includes a lateral portion 300 including a plurality of airinducers 302 for directing air within the passageway 290 to the primaryexhaust chamber 292; an entrance aperture 304 through which conveyancescan enter the passageway 290; and an exit aperture 306 through whichconveyances can exit the passageway 290.

Preferably, the flow of traffic along each lane is controlled by one ormore queue indicators 308 (e.g., a traffic light). Preferably, a maximumspeed limit for conveyances is posted and monitored for each conveyanceas each conveyance passes through the passageway 290. Such speeds arepreferably monitored using, for example, radar or laser detectiondevices 310 commonly used by traffic law enforcement personnel. Asecurity zone 312 is defined and controlled up to a defined distance D2from the exit aperture 306 so that if an inanimate odor detector in theobservation room 298 generates a response signal, security personneland/or automated control system(s) have adequate time to stop trafficwithin the security zone 312 to more closely inspect the one or moreconveyances that were passing through the passageway 290 near the timewhen the inanimate odor detector exhibited a response signal. This canbe accomplished at least in part, for example, by one or more securitybarriers 314. The defined distance D2 preferably ranges from about onequarter mile to about one mile and, more preferably, from about one halfmile to about three-quarters of a mile.

By creating turbulent air conditions in the primary exhaust chamber 292,the air therein quickly becomes well-mixed such that a sample of the airwithin the primary exhaust chamber 292 is a more reliablecross-sectional sample of the entire air environment within thepassageway 290. Thus, when air from the duct 296 is exposed to aninanimate odor detector, the inanimate odor detector is more likely todetect any target odor that may be (or very recently was) present withinthe covered passageway 290.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can be used in many differentsecurity situations and applications including, for example, airportsecurity, building security, event security (e.g., a large outdoorconcert, a collegiate or professional sporting event), and governmentstructure security.

One object of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus to providedistance between the screening zone where odor emitters pass through andthe observation room where a screening inanimate odor detector isusually present, potentially with accompanying personnel. Placing anobservation room a minimum distance from a screening zone is importantfor various reasons including protecting an inanimate odor detector fromweapons used in or near the screening zone (e.g., explosives, chemicalweapons, and biological weapons); and decreasing the chance that humanor animal odor emitters will be aware that the screening inanimate odordetector is screening them.

Yet another object of the disclosure is to provide a security apparatusthat can isolate, repulse, or otherwise control an odor emitter thatcauses a triggering event. If a non-threatening target odor is detected(e.g., illegal narcotics), the suspected odor emitter can be enclosedwithin a screening station. Alternatively, if a threatening target odoris detected (e.g., high explosives), the suspected odor emitter can berepulsed from the screening station away from the building/event beingsecured by use of a repulsing agent (e.g., an automated pepper spraynozzle within the screening station). If the screening station is blastresistant, it may be better to isolate an odor emitter suspected ofcarrying high explosives within the screening station by automaticallyclosing and locking any applicable doors. If a chemical weapon orbiological weapon is detected, an embodiment of a security apparatus asdescribed herein can be configured to automatically close all vents,doors, and other openings to the screening station, thereby virtuallysealing the screening station so that such weapons cannot be spreadoutside of the screening station. Various control logic options usingthe security apparatuses described herein and variations thereof arecontemplated in which certain types of triggering events cause certainsecurity assets to be activated in a specified order or manner. Theresultant security measures taken in any given scenario will ultimatelydepend on the programming of the applicable controller (and associatedsoftware, firmware, and/or otherwise), the specific configuration andconstruction of the security apparatus being used, and the number andtypes of target odors being screened at any one time.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide a highly reliablesecurity apparatus for screening one or more target odors while alsoscreening odor emitters using other technologies including metaldetection, body scanning, bio-scanning (e.g., finger-print scans,retinal scans), badge scanners, and other types of security scanning andscreening devices.

The previously described embodiments of the present disclosure have manyadvantages, including consistency in sensing target odors, protectionfor screening inanimate odor detectors and odor emitters alike,protection from blasts or flying projectiles, screening for differenttypes of target odors at one time, visual monitoring of multiplescreening stations located very far apart from one another and far apartfrom the remote supervision zone, automated sensor monitoring ofmultiple screening stations located very far apart from one another andfar apart, mobility of certain versions of the security apparatus,flexibility in programming a security apparatus controller based on theparticular situation/event/building for which a security apparatus willbe used to protect, and other advantages described herein.

The ability to rapidly scan conveyances moving at high rates of speed isa significant improvement over scanning conveyances (e.g., cars) one byone at checkpoints where to conveyances must each stop in single filefashion for sometimes extended periods of time. Although the rapidscreening techniques described herein with respect to moving conveyancesis not necessarily reliable at detecting small quantities (i.e., lessthan about 10 kilograms) of a contraband substance (e.g., explosives),the objective is to rapidly eliminate someone to move a conveyanceproximate to a secured area and, for example, detonate a large amount ofexplosives. Similarly, detection of small stashes of narcotics crossingover a federal border is not the goal for this specific exemplarytechnology. Rather, a primary goal is to rapidly and efficientlyidentify large quantities of narcotics and other illegal substances todisrupt significant shipments of illegal contraband. Thus, for thisparticular application, detection of small quantities is not nearly asimportant as detecting large quantities of contraband substances.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the preciseform(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and describedin an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of thedisclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in thedisclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications andvariations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by theappended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to whichthey are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. In particular, the use of “step of” inthe claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C.§112, ¶ 6.

1. A security apparatus comprising: a screening station including ascreening zone defined between an ingress portal and an egress portal ofthe screening station for an odor emitter to pass through the screeningzone; a remote observation room; a conduit including a first end and asecond end, the conduit attached adjacent the screening stationproximate the first end and attached adjacent the observation roomproximate the second end, wherein gas can flow freely through theconduit from the screening station screening zone to the observationroom; an inanimate odor detector located in the observation room andconfigured to identify at least one target odor; an airflow inducer forinducing airflow from within the screening zone, through the conduit,and to the observation room to entrain odors in the observation roomthat were emitted in the screening zone so that the inanimate odordetector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen the odors for oneor more target odors.
 2. The security apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a porous structure defining a porous zone between thescreening zone and the conduit, whereby air flows from within thescreening zone, through the porous zone, through the conduit, and to theobservation room to entrain odors in the observation room that wereemitted in the screening zone so that the inanimate odor detector isexposed the entrained odors to screen the odors for one or more targetodors.
 3. The security apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conduitconfiguration wherein the observation room is from about 50 feet toabout 250 feet from the screening zone.
 4. The security apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a conduit configuration wherein theobservation room is at least about 200 feet from the screening zone. 5.The security apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a second remoteobservation room; the conduit including a third end, the conduitattached adjacent the second observation room proximal the third end,wherein gas can flow freely through the conduit from the screeningstation screening zone to the second observation room; a secondinanimate odor detector located in the second observation room andconfigured to identify at least one target odor that is different fromthe target odor the first inanimate odor detector is screening for; theairflow inducer for inducing airflow from within the screening zone,through the conduit, and to the second observation room to entrain odorsin the second observation room that were emitted in the screening zoneso that the second inanimate odor detector is exposed to the entrainedodors for screening the odors for one or more target odors.
 6. Thesecurity apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a first door forclosing the ingress portal and a second door for closing the egressportal; a lock system including a first lock for locking the first doorand a second lock for locking the second door; a control system incommunication with the inanimate odor detector and the lock system forcontrolling the lock status of the first door and the second door basedat least in part on information sent from the sensing device to thecontrol system wherein the control system is programmed such that atriggering event initiated by the first inanimate odor detector willresult in a first control response and a triggering event initiated bythe second inanimate odor detector will result in a second controlresponse, wherein the first control response is different from thesecond control response.
 7. The security apparatus of claim 3 whereinair is drawn into the security apparatus through an ingress ventadjacent the screening zone, and air flows from the screening zonethrough the conduit, into the observation room, and out of the securityapparatus through an egress vent located adjacent the observation room.8. A security apparatus comprising: a screening station including ascreening zone defined between an ingress portal and an egress portal ofthe screening station for an odor emitter to pass through the screeningzone; an observation room; an enclosed passageway defining a transferzone between the screening zone and the observation room; an inanimateodor detector located in the observation room; and an airflow inducerfor inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through thetransfer zone, and to the observation room to entrain odors in theobservation room that were emitted in the screening zone so that theinanimate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen theodors for one or more target odors, wherein the inanimate odor detectoris in communication with an event indicator.
 9. The security apparatusof claim 8 further comprising: a second screening station including asecond screening zone defined between a second ingress portal and asecond egress portal of the second screening station for an odor emitterto pass through the second screening zone; and a second enclosedpassageway defining a second transfer zone between the second screeningzone and the observation room.
 10. The security apparatus of claim 8further comprising a conveyance system including a conveyor supportsurface for an odor emitter to remain still during a screening period,wherein the conveyance system moves the odor emitter at a desired ratefrom a first location within the screening zone to a second locationwithin the screening zone.
 11. The security apparatus of claim 8 furthercomprising: a first door for closing the ingress portal and a seconddoor for closing the egress portal; a lock system including a first lockfor locking the first door and a second lock for locking the seconddoor; a control system in communication with the inanimate odor detectorand the lock system for controlling the lock status of the first doorand the second door based at least in part on information sent from theinanimate odor detector to the control system.
 12. The securityapparatus of claim 8 further comprising: a first camera for acquiring afirst set of visual data from a first area of interest in or adjacentthe security apparatus; a remote supervision zone including anelectronic display apparatus for a person to remotely monitor the firstarea of interest; a relay system for relaying visual data from the firstcamera to the electronic so display apparatus.
 13. The securityapparatus of claim 12 comprising the relay system which furthercomprises a first visual data transmitter and a first visual datareceiver.
 14. The security apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: asecond screening station including a second screening zone definedbetween a second ingress portal and a second egress portal of the secondscreening station for an odor emitter to pass through the secondscreening zone; a second enclosed passageway defining a second transferzone between the second screening zone and the second observation room;a second inanimate odor detector located in the second observation room;a second airflow inducer for inducing airflow from within the secondscreening zone, through the second transfer zone, and to the secondobservation room to entrain odors in the second observation room thatwere emitted in the second screening zone so that the second inanimateodor detector is exposed the entrained odors to screen the odors for oneor more target odors; the first camera for acquiring the first set ofvisual data from the first area of interest, wherein the first area ofinterest is located in a first geographic area comprising the firstscreening station and the first observation room; a second camera foracquiring a second set of visual data from a second area of interest,wherein the second area of interest is located in a second geographicarea too comprising the second screening station and the second remoteobservation room; the remote supervision zone including the electronicdisplay apparatus for a person to remotely monitor the first area ofinterest and the second area of interest; the relay system for relayingthe first visual data from the first camera and the second visual datafrom the second camera to the electronic display apparatus, wherein thefirst geographic area is a distance of at least 50 feet from the secondgeographic area.
 15. The security apparatus of claim 11 comprising theenclosed passageway which further comprises an apparatus selected fromthe group consisting of: a conduit including a first end and a secondend, the conduit attached adjacent the screening station proximal thefirst end and attached adjacent the observation room proximal the secondend, wherein gas can flow freely through the conduit from the screeningstation screening zone to the observation room; and a porous structuredefining a porous zone between the screening zone and the observationroom, whereby air flows from within the screening zone, through theporous zone, and to the observation room to entrain odors in theobservation room that were emitted in the screening zone so that theinanimate odor detector is exposed the entrained odors to screen theodors for one or more target odors.
 16. The security apparatus of claim12 comprising: the remote supervision zone further comprising a manualinput apparatus for selective activation by a person in response toobserving an event of interest displayed on the electronic displayapparatus, whereby activation of the manual input apparatus and/ortriggering of the inanimate odor detector causes the control system togenerate a control signal directed to a security asset to activate thesecurity asset; a control system in communication with the inanimateodor detector and the manual input apparatus.
 17. The security apparatusof claim 14 comprising: the remote supervision zone further comprising amanual input apparatus; a control system in communication with theinanimate odor detector, the second inanimate odor detector, and themanual control apparatus, the manual input apparatus for selectiveactivation by a person in response to observing an event of interestdisplayed on the electronic display apparatus, whereby activation of themanual input apparatus, triggering of 135 the inanimate odor detector,and/or triggering of the second inanimate odor detector causes thecontrol system to generate a control signal directed to a security assetto activate the security asset.
 18. A mobile security apparatuscomprising: a vehicle comprising a screening chamber including ascreening zone defined therein, the screening chamber including a portalthrough which an odor emitter can enter to be screened for one or moretarget odors; an observation chamber; an enclosed passageway defining atransfer zone between the screening zone and the observation chamber; aninanimate odor detector located in the observation chamber andconfigured to identify at least one target odor; and an airflow inducerfor inducing airflow from within the screening zone, through thetransfer zone, and to the observation chamber to entrain odors in theobservation chamber that were emitted in the screening zone so that theinanimate odor detector is exposed to the entrained odors to screen theodors for one or more target odors, an engagement apparatus including asensing device attached adjacent thereto, wherein the sensing device isin communication with an event indicator, and wherein the inanimate odordetector is in communication with the event indicator to indicate that atarget odor has been detected.
 19. A security apparatus for screening aconveyance while the conveyance remains in motion, the apparatuscomprising: a structure including a lateral section, the structuredefining a passageway through which a conveyance can pass from anentrance aperture to an exit aperture; a primary exhaust chamber; aplurality of air inducers attached adjacent the lateral section, whereinthe air inducers, when operational, direct air within the passageway tothe primary exhaust chamber; an air mixing apparatus for ensuringturbulent air conditions during operation within the primary exhaustchamber; a duct attached adjacent the primary exhaust chamber wherein,during operation, a portion of the air flowing through the primaryexhaust chamber exits through the duct; and an observation room attachedadjacent the duct for receiving air from the passageway and fortemporarily housing an inanimate odor detector for screening the airpassing through the observation room for a target odor.
 20. The securityapparatus of claim 19 further comprising: a security zone extending adistance D from the exit aperture of the structure; and a securitybarrier within the security zone for prohibiting a conveyance fromexiting the security zone if a target odor is detected by an inanimateodor detector during the period of time when the conveyance was in thepassageway or between the passageway and the security barrier.